A do-it-yourself guide for getting rid of just about anything.

Best Ways to Get Rid of Cockroaches

Modified on July 17, 2016

Of all the pests we’ve studied and written about, none is more ubiquitous than the cockroach. Cockroaches have been with us since the dawn of humanity–the pesky roommates we couldn’t get rid of no matter how hard we tried. And we’ve been trying. Getting rid of cockroaches is no easy thing. There’s a reason scientists say one of the only creatures left after a holocaust will most likely be the cockroach. To say the cockroach is resilient is like saying water is wet–obvious and understated. But that’s not to say getting rid of cockroaches is impossible. It might take some time, but the best ways to control cockroaches are really quite simple and generally apply to all species of cockroach. However, there are some subtle differences in the approaches to cockroach control based on the species…we’ll get to those.

There are roughly five common pestiferous species of cockroach in North America, and each species varies somewhat in preference to environment and appetite. The German cockroach, for example, is as comfortable indoors as it is outdoors and will eat just about anything; while the smoky brown cockroach prefers to live outdoors and is considered primarily a vegetarian. Below we will provide for you a clear picture of the possible cockroach that is infesting your home, tell you a little bit about its behavior, and then offer pest control suggestions specific to that species of cockroach.

But before we begin, your first step should be to set out some sticky traps (like the ones we use for mice) around your house. This will accomplish two things: first, it will help you get a better look at the roaches that have infested your house, so you can identify them, and second, it will give you an idea of where the “high traffic” areas are for cockroaches in your home, so if you choose to use roach sprays, roach baits, or roach poison, you’ll know where to apply it.

Why get rid of roaches?

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out why people want to get rid of cockroaches. Cockroaches leave saliva and excrement on your dishes, your cookware, your countertops, and any other surface they cross. But it’s not just the food poisoning, dysentery, and diarrhea that cockroaches may cause. There’s also the threat of childhood asthma.

According to a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, cockroach allergens, which come from the saliva, feces, cast skins, and dead bodies of cockroaches, can exacerbate asthma in children–more so, even, than dust mites or pets.

Best Ways to Kill Cockroaches

Killing cockroaches is easy. You just stomp on them, right? Wrong. Besides the obvious mess you’ll leave behind, cockroaches (when they’re hungry enough) will eat the remains of other cockroaches, so squishing them isn’t the best way to do it.

Kill cockroaches by dehydrating them. This doesn’t sound easy, but most roach killing sprays first abrade the exoskeletons of the roach and then deliver a neurotoxin to turn off their brains. Most roach-killing dusts, like boric acid (borax) also abrade the exoskeleton but do not deliver any other chemical; they simply allow the roach to dehydrate and die of thirst.

So, how you kill a cockroach depends on how long you want them to suffer. See the section below about roach poison and roach baits to help you make a more informed decision.

Identification and Top ways to Get Rid of Cockroaches

The American cockroach prefers moisture and warmth, which explains why it is so commonly found in boats, bathrooms, basements, and sewers. The American cockroach is one of the larger species of pestiferous roaches in the U.S., but luckily for you it is less common in homes and apartments. However, if you’ve identified the American cockroach as your problem pest, perhaps the best way to get rid of the American cockroach is to cut off access to your home and reduce the amount of residual moisture in your home. Caulking cracks and crevices in your foundation as well as in your baseboards and walls in the first floor of your home is paramount. Using a dehumidifier to keep relative humidity to a minimum will also help deter American cockroach populations from getting out of hand. Something like the Eva-dry at Amazon may work, but you’ll want to probably get something a bit larger if you’re going whole-home instead of closet or bathroom. Dusting those areas where you notice roach traffic most often with boric acid (borax) will help to get rid of roaches that are still troubling you.

The German cockroach can thrive in just about any environment and is less reliant upon moisture than other roaches. For these reasons, the German cockroach has become the most common pest in the American household, far beyond any other cockroach in North America. The German cockroach has one weakness and that is its preference for warm air (like that of its native North Africa). Heating vents and furnaces are some of their most common hiding places. Sanitary standards are, of course, one of the most effective ways to get rid of German cockroaches, but simply putting out roach baits that use boric acid as their active ingredient will usually take care of the problem. Following the natural roach control regiment in the right sidebar is often your best recourse for controlling German cockroach problems.

The brown banded cockroach, like the German cockroach, prefers warmer, drier climates, thus making them a problem in the upper floors and attics of your home. The brown banded cockroach is a notorious eater of clothes, fabrics, glue, and other starchy substances, which is why you’ll often find clusters of them in shelf spaces and warm, upstairs closets–especially bedrooms. To control brown banded cockroach populations immediately, you may want to wait until dark, then turn on the lights and follow the skittering roaches to their hiding places, and spray with a pyrethrin- or permethrin-based roach spray. Follow this up by vacuuming your rooms thoroughly, using a crevice attachment to suck roaches and their eggs from their hiding spots. Then dust with boric acid powder in those inconspicuous places. Caulking cracks beneath baseboards and around cabinets and shelving will stop brown banded roaches from returning.

The Oriental cockroach is less common than either the German or brown banded cockroach and prefers very wet environments. You will often find the Oriental cockroach feeding on decaying food, in garbage containers, and anywhere else food has been dropped. These particular roaches are considered the perfect vector for food borne illnesses because of their appreciation for rotting food or leftover scraps, rather than starchy foods and sugars. Because of the Oriental cockroach’s affinity for sewers, drains, refrigerators, basements, cellars, and any other cool, moist environment, your best option for comprehensive roach control is to keep your home warm and dry. A dehumidifier set to high in a basement or on the first floor of your home will help take much of the moisture out of the air, leaving the floors and other surfaces dry enough to dust with boric acid as a secondary precaution. You should replace all garbage containers with sealable bins, take out the trash regularly, and avoid leaving scraps of food or compost heaps near your home. This also will help get rid of other pests besides cockroaches.

The smoky brown cockroach is primarily an outdoors roach that will wander indoors only if there is a food source. The smoky brown cockroach prefers plant matter as its primary food source, so you will often see these roaches in gardens and greenhouses–rarely in areas where humans tend to dwell. Because of the smoky brown cockroach’s love of rotting fruits and vegetables, it’s a good idea to begin a roach control regiment by cleaning away any organic matter from doorways, windowsills, and edges of buildings. Ground level walls and foundations should be inspected and caulk should be used to seal any cracks that are observed. You may even want to consider lining the perimeter of your home with an organic desiccant like food grade diatomaceous earth.

Roach Poisons and Roach Baits

Determining which poison or bait to use comes down to the question of how large your problem is. If you’ve laid out sticky traps and they’re getting completely covered, or if you see cockroaches during the day on a regular basis, the chances are you’re dealing with a rather large cockroach population. Cockroaches only feed during the day if the population is too great to support a strictly nighttime feeding schedule.

If you have a large population of cockroaches you’re going to want to use roach poisons, dusts, and sprays. Dusts and sprays are considered more effective for large cockroach infestations than baits because they not only cover a larger area, but there is no need to lure the cockroach to the poison itself. Many roach poisons, dusts, and sprays are what we call desiccants. A desiccant doesn’t need to be ingested to take effect. Desiccants basically scratch the exoskeleton of the cockroach (that hard surface that keeps moisture and the cockroach guts inside), allowing moisture to seep out slowly–eventually killing the roach who comes into contact with it. It’s not a quick death, unless of course the dust or spray you’re using contains a secondary ingredient like a neurotoxin to kill the roach more quickly. Such sprays and dusts to be considered are Raid’s line of roach and ant sprays, Drione Dust (which uses silica aerogel to abrade the exoskeleton), Shellshock (which uses diatomaceous earth to dehydrate the insect), and Diacide (diatomaceous earth + pyrethrin). Boric acid, or borax, is also considered a desiccant.

There are, of course other poisonous sprays and dusts that you can use, but those insecticides that use desiccants are considered the least harmful to humans and pets.

If you’re having trouble with just a few roaches, then roach baits are probably your best option. They’re easy to keep out of view, and they’re quite effective at keeping cockroach populations at a relatively unnoticeable level. They’re also good for taking care of scouts who may have wandered indoors looking for a better place to eat and lay eggs. Almost every cockroach bait uses boric acid as it’s active ingredient. Examples of such products would be: Alpha 3 Roach Baits, Niban, Triad Granule Bait, and It Works Roach Killing Stations. These roach bait options are best for dealing with roaches in houses where either pets or small children are present. Amazon has niban in a 4lb shaker for a reasonable price.

Roach foggers are effective, but you have to assume that your home will be covered with pyrethroids–a family of synthetic insecticides that may or may not be carcinogenic, depending on who you ask!

Best Natural Cockroach Control Methods

Wash everything with soap and water. Clean your entire apartment or living space down to the very last surface. This can be done in an ecologically-sound manner by using products made by companies like Ecover and and Seventh Generation. These companies provide cleaning products for just about every surface and situation.

Vacuum your house thoroughly, making sure to use the appropriate attachments to reach cracks and crevices, and get ceilings, furniture, and throw rugs. After that it’s a matter of convincing yourself and others to vacuum on a regular/weekly basis.

Caulk any cracks or gaps between pipes (gas and water), walls, baseboards, cabinets, and countertops. Sealing these areas will give cockroaches fewer places to hide, and when cockroaches have nowhere to hide, they’ll find somewhere else to live.

Weatherstrip windows and doors to prevent the migration of cockroaches from outdoors to indoors. Mending any broken or torn window screens is also a good idea.

Store your food and garbage in sealable, roach-proof containers, making sure to take your garbage out on a regular basis. You know, before it starts to smell like crap. For the food, we’d recommend Rubbermaid Modular containers sold at Amazon. They’re stackable!

Dust with boric acid powder in inconspicuous places, like behind cabinets, your refrigerator and oven, and any other nooks or crannies where children and pets may not be able to reach. Amazon sells Boric Acid Roach & Ant Killer if you want to try this option.

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COMMENTS

Bait where you have seen them first and see how many you are dealing with. After that you can use boric acid or other treatments when you find where they are and reduce or eliminate the population.

December 7, 2016 at 8:02 pm

Betsy Fabersays:

Hi Joyce,

I would thoroughly clean the piano and then set traps inside it. If possible remove the piano from the environment and then clean and set the traps before moving to the new place. The piano shouldn’t be very attractive to them since there isn’t a food source.

December 4, 2016 at 2:22 pm

Joycesays:

I am moving out of an apartment because of the cockroaches. I have a piano and I’m wondering how to make sure there are no bugs inside the piano. Suggestions??

December 3, 2016 at 1:32 pm

Anniesays:

Do I bait the whole apartment? or just where I’ve seen them? I haven’t seen in the kitchen (yet…phew). But I have seen one or two every so often in the bathroom or bedroom. The other day in my closet…..Or is it bait heavily where I’ve seen them and lightly in the other rooms? Thank you~

November 17, 2016 at 10:17 pm

Betsy Fabersays:

HI Lindsay,

I would pull the stove out and lay down boric acid under and around the stove. Then I would set the oven to 500 for a half hour or so, the heat should drive them out and into the Boric Acid. Then thoroughly clean the stove. I would leave the boric Acid in inconspicuous places until you are sure. OF course you can also just hire a professional too!

November 16, 2016 at 2:25 pm

Lindsaysays:

What do you do when they are IN appliances. We’ve killed a few we’ve seen crawling around the digital clock on the stove. What can I use to get the little jerks living in there?

October 25, 2016 at 8:44 pm

Betsy Fabersays:

Sounds like you are doing the right thing – keep an eye on the traps. Good luck!

October 16, 2016 at 2:39 pm

Logansays:

Malik,
Boric acid is deadly if consumed. Here is a product you can use Boric Acid Follow the instructions on the back. You should try all the other suggestions in the article.

October 8, 2016 at 2:57 am

Danasays:

I Know that a family members car has alot of small roaches in it let one of the relative sit in my house for a while and later i see them running around my kitchen needless to say Im pissed and creeped out s will bomb and jeltrap before it gets worse Ive been here for six years and hadnt seen a roach in years to many kids and pets to put boric powder down what can i do after not seeing a roach in 40 years quite dismayed HELP PLEASE

September 22, 2016 at 6:22 pm

Stormysays:

We killed one that was coming from our stove and one 3 weeks later on our floor. We havent seen another one since. Please tell me its possible these were scouts and we foiled their plans of invading. I will freak if it gets worse. We live in an upstairs apartment in silicon valley, is it possible a neighbor has them and is not handling it? We put those bait things in a couple areas that the cats cant get to. I really want to be sure I am doing what I can. I am losing sleep over this. 😉

September 16, 2016 at 7:18 am

MALIKsays:

i have small roaches in my kitchen ,what to do ? I have learn that boric will work but I don’t know how to use boric acid in kitchen as lot of eatable things are also there I fear may be poison in boric acid or with whom I mix boric and spread over there pl. advice me

Jenny, if I had to guess, I’d say they were poisoned when you put them out there. Someone else in the condo probably has bait traps out (which is probably why you were able to catch them in the first place).

July 14, 2016 at 7:19 am

Jenny Peterssays:

hi! I have a big problem killing anything or watch it suffer so i tried to catch the roaches under a jar and take them outside….. but the next morning I found them dead… Can you answer me why is that so? what is the possible reason? I m sure i didn’t injured them….. Are they so sensitive or is the true green they spray regularly in my condo?

Amy, I would go with boric acid baits. Boric acid is practically non-toxic to birds. It can be, however, a little tougher on cats. So I’d use caution. Do your cats chase/attack/play with the roaches when they see them?

July 11, 2016 at 10:38 am

Amy Conleysays:

Hi my question is about the safety of my pets. I have birds, cats and dogs. I have an aviary so I know we have lots of food and water to support the bugs. How can I take care of a serious infestation without hurting my pets?

TK, you may have found a nest, but there are probably others. Have you put down any baits or are you just relying on your hunting skills?

March 22, 2016 at 9:19 am

TKsays:

I have located the nest and killed quite a number today does that mean its over. I wash dishes at night etc but had never found the nest. Another question is how do you know it is the nest? i killed about 50 in one place today so I am guessing that is a nest.

Gail, other than keeping super diligent about vacuuming, sweeping, doing dishes, keeping pet food up, etc., I would start with some roach baits that use boric acid as the active ingredient.

January 8, 2016 at 1:36 am

gail kaufmansays:

wm..that was hillarious..first time ive laughed since ive been trying to deal with my roaches..anyways after trying a few sticky traps finally had to buy for somewhere in georgia..im in vancouver b,c. can…bought roach motel..wow worked within a few hours i dont have a big infestation i catch about three four per night my problem is i cant bear to see therelitle legs stuck and of course i torture myself thinking i can see the suffering in their eyes..i have cat who is very concerned with the roaches so poison out of question..i try to squish them to put out of misery but my stick gets stuck and wrecked one of the taps trying to get it out..i know most people laugh at me but i just cant stand the thought of anything suffering..i dont mind the actual killing sooo anyone have any input that could help me..donrt bother with the jokes ive heard them all…this story for hm..i was living in a very shady hotel once and the roach situation was so bad i came home one night ..opened the door and there were four of them sitting at my table playing poker and drinking my beer…i moved out the next day ..signed..bazgodez

Katrina, keep cleaning, keep looking for cracks/crevices to seal up, keep putting boric acid baits out, and be patient. Boric acid is a slow, but effective poison. Those roaches have probably been there for YEARS. It’s gonna take more than a week to get rid of them.

November 5, 2015 at 10:07 pm

Katrinasays:

Hi i just moved into this studio apartment i saw pretty big bugs in my bathroom the second day i was here then i started to see babies all over my bathroom and a few in my closet so i set off a fogger and sealed up all the little cracks in the bathroom and laid out traps everywhere and boric acid and contacted my complex about them and an exterminator came out and sprayed and put down powder and put out gel bait but and its been less than a week and today i saw one in my kitchen crawling across the floor and a dead baby one in my cabinet drawer now im freaking out i never lived with roaches and feel like i have done everything i could do im fed up i haven’t seen any in the bathroom so far but now there in the kitchen which i keep very clean everything is in the refrigerator or containers i haven’t even used my dishwasher or coffee maker because of the water i never leave dishes in the sink and take out the trash daily should i give it more time or take further precautions

Debra, they could have come from anywhere, including your neighbor’s yard. I doubt, however, that they are to blame.

October 21, 2015 at 8:34 am

DEBRAsays:

I just moved into my house in August. No Roaches. September No roaches…OCTOBER BAM! Roaches everywhere…is it possible that they came from my neighbors house who doesnt mow her lawn AT ALL!! its like a jungle over there…im sure I heard a lion at one point…( we live very close..i could touch her house if i stepped outside) I see them during the day and at night..I think they are nesting in my fridge because when I turn on the lights thats were these little bastards run…

Kyli, this is the first I’ve heard of using daddy long legs. And to be honest, I’m VERY skeptical. As for the lizard, I have a hard time believing he’d eat more than a few roaches per night. It’s a nice idea, but not very practical. Plus, how would you find him in the morning? Once he got a taste of freedom, I think he would develop quite a liking to it.

September 19, 2015 at 12:02 am

Kylisays:

I just moved into a new place and it has cockroaches. I’ve tried everything else (boric acide, bait traps, caulking cracks) except spiders and a pet lizard. If I bring in some Daddy Long Leg spiders and let them take up residence in my place, how many cockroaches do you think they can kill? Will they make a dent in the population? What about a pet lizard that I let out of the aquarium to roam the place at night, eating roaches while I sleep peacefully. I am being quite serious by the way. Everyone is so afraid of spiders (why?) but they serve a greater purpose. Your thoughts about this remedy?

I bought a gallon of indoor, outdoor bug spray and a container of roach (bug) powder. I have been living in a row house for 3 months. Don’t have any animals or kids. So I use the powder and spray in the kitchen and bathroom. I am careful not to use on any surface where I prepare food. I used them behind the stove, refridgerator and under the sinks. I have seen about 5 big roaches, but mostly small babies ones that won’t get any bigger. I am sure the people on both sides of me didn’t appreciate the extra company for awhile. Even the ones that came from my appartment were well on their way to dying. I still see a few but I know they are looking for a place to die. I am also carefull to seal all food, and clean up crumbs. Life is good.

Traci, there’s really nothing else I can tell you that isn’t in the article. I will say this, however, having a pest control company come out to treat one apartment out of 200 is worthless. They might put some residual pesticides down that will help for awhile, but it’s a temporary fix. You can do everything right, but if you’re neighbor is a slob, it’s worthless. The best thing you can do is to keep your place as clean as possible and hope the roaches go next door, where there’s food. You’ll still see them on occasion when they’re looking for food. Just don’t give them a reason to stay.

July 28, 2015 at 7:37 pm

Tracisays:

Hello, I live in a very large apartment complex, the last week I have seen 2 roaches, 1 on my patio and 1 in my daughter’s bedroom and they were and I am not kidding at least 2 1/2″ to 3″ they were huge I have never seen such large Roaches in my life. Anyway the management is having Orcon come out tomorrow, but I have 2 dogs and a cat and am worried first that since I live in such a large complex getting rid of them would be impossible, unless the treated all 200 apartments, and second I have pets. What could you advise me on to make sure these huge bugs stay out of my house. Any info would be helpful.

I am at my wits end, Problem started last July,2014, i invested $250.00 into a pest control company, in September ,by October they were back, called the company, to respray in November, by January 2015 saw one crawling on the wall, In April,i discovered Maxforce gel paid $75.00 (rip off) for a small tube, and found that it worked great,,,,finished the tube and bought some more Maxforce gel on line for $20.00 ,seem to have contained most of the problem, but irritated that i am seeing the odd one in different areas of the house where i would least expect to see.,(eg bedroom, upstairs bathroom,) i really am very frustrated…as i read that Maxforce gel would get rid of them once and for all..not a happy camper, and i refuse to Pay any more money for pest control…
They are seen all hours now (not just when the light is turned on ..which scares me more….. : ((

May 7, 2015 at 6:04 am

Lousays:

Hello everyone, I’ve been living in an apartment for more than 3 years and had never seen these large dark brown/black roaches until about a week ago. I like the article describing the different kinds of roaches which helps me know how to destroy them. My problem is I’m clean and they are coming out of my closet, yet, my grandson lives horrible and there are no roaches. It appears they are wiser than you think. What I did a few minutes ago was to take the Ortho Home Defense and spray in the closed, around all the baseboards, washing area, and kitchen. When my grandson wakes up and goes to school, I’m going to spray his room. In addition, I have some spray for outside defenses against them. I’m going to spray around the whole house. I hate roaches and do not like them, ants, or anything inside my house. Thanks all of you for your ideas. They are much appreciated.

Spraying and setting traps won’t be enough. Boric acid baits are the best thing you can use. Please actually read through the article. It’s full of good advice. If you have any specific questions, let me know.

March 15, 2015 at 1:50 am

Sarasays:

I am in an apartment complex. Seems to me that Iam the one only with the roach problem and I can’t seem to get rid of.. I used everything you can think of. And I’m tired of them begin in everything in my kitchen and my bathroom. My house stays clean. I spray I put sticky traps. I found where they reside and it seems like they come back even more. What do I do.,

Alright wm, while I’m not sure of your methods, who am I to stand in the way of a possible solution to the roach epidemic?!

May 29, 2014 at 6:45 pm

wmsays:

Dear moderator my previous post was not a trolling effort. I have had very bad reactions from people upon repeating this technique. It really, really , really works. I got thrown out of bar once for giving this advice.

May 29, 2014 at 6:34 pm

wmsays:

You don’t need to kill cockroaches to keep them from bothering you. All you have to do is catch one of them and tare off a couple of its legs and set him lose. He limps back to his buddies and tells ’em “that guy on the third floor is a sadistic bas$*&d don’t go there!” it really works, trust me.

May 10, 2014 at 7:05 pm

Benedictesays:

Dear Genevieve and Bill,

I also have cockroaches in my social welfare flat and am looking at solutions to get rid of them. I read in an article today that one can crush up some bay leaves and spread them around their home. As the roaches hate the smell of bay leaves, it would keep them away from it.

Kind regards,
Benedicte

May 6, 2014 at 4:08 am

Billsays:

We moved in here in 1999. For the first few months we saw none. They were there tho! Hiding and waiting for the chance at any kind of meal they could get. German and Brown type with an occasional palmetto bug. I tried everything I could find. Even boric acid powder. I tried the thin lines and it did no good. I even poured it out on the floor and swept it around. I would wake up and turn the light on and they would be there all in the boric as if it had no effect on them. I trapped a few under a jar with boric acid powder on the counter and they survived for 2 weeks till I decided to just go ahead and kill them.
I have used Raid (and all those other sprays), Combat, Boric Acid powder, Traps, Made home remedies from Boric Acid mixed with powdered sugar and backing soda, put in small bottle caps and placed everywhere, Tried Boric Acid powder mixed with syrup and peanut butter put in bottle caps. Nothing seems to work except to swat them with a fly swatter! I have considered capturing any lizard I see and drop it off in the house. I hear they will eat them. If so, they should get fat!! LOL
I am beginning to think the only way to rid this house of them is to do a tent over! And even that may not work and turn out to be a waste of funds.
If anyone has a sure fire method, besides burning the house down, please let me know!

Sorry to hear about the roaches. You’re on the right track, though. Boric acid is pretty much the best thing you can use against roaches. I think, in your situation, I would start by spreading sticky traps around your home (bathrooms, kitchen, closets, bed rooms, utility rooms, etc.). The traps won’t get rid of the problem, but they will let you know where the majority of your cockroaches are hanging out when you can’t see them. If there are lots of roaches stuck to a particular trap in a particular area, that’s probably where they’re spending most of their time. These will be the areas where you should be spreading higher concentrations of boric acid. Don’t be afraid to pulverize the boric acid, either. Powder is good. You may also want to invest in some diatomaceous earth. It’s a powdered substance that will cut the exoskeletons of bugs that walk through it and cause them to dry out. A quick Google search will show you where to buy it online. Otherwise, many gardening centers carry it. And of course, keep your place as clean and dry as possible.

The biggest obstacle I see for you is that, if you live in a complex, you can do everything right, but if your neighbors aren’t doing everything right, you’ll still have roaches. I would encourage you to either talk with your neighbors and explain to them what’s happening and what they can do to help, and/or….talk to property management and see if they can help out with talking to/educating everyone in the complex.

Regards,

Eric

January 18, 2014 at 3:06 pm

Genevievesays:

In Dec. I saw my first cockroach in my house, near my kitchen sink, since 1982 . I was going away for 5 days so spread boric acid tablets in the kitchen and baths. I never saw another until a few days ago when I picked up a kitchen towel I had left on the counter overnight. A zillion minute baby roaches scattered everywhere. I spread boric acid tablets again. It’s hard to tell what kind they are. The infants appeared tri colored. I have seen one a day since but now they are solid dark brown almost round. I catch what I can but I know there are still two here at least. I’m 76 and live on Social Security only so can’t afford anything but DYI. I have no family in my state. My husband died 5 years ago. The complex does do outside pest control. Any advice welcome. Thank you.